PUPILS at Cotherstone Primary School know a lot more about the food they eat after being visited by Piercebridge farmer William Maughan.
Mr Maughan brought along his tractor and a range of seeds during his visit. He explained how plants like wheat, rape seed and beans are planted, nurtured and harvested. He also demonstrated how a combine harvester separates wheat from chaff and how the straw from the harvested plants is used as bedding for animals.
Some of the harvested seeds are kept for planting for the next season, but most sent to make breakfast cereals, bread and vegetable oil, he added.
Mr Maughan, who has a 500-acre farm, produces crops of wheat, barley and oil seed rape. He also raises cattle and chickens. Children were delighted at the end of the lesson to see the tractor.
He said: “The tractor is one of the most important machines on the farm. It can plough, drill seeds, and be used to fertilise and spray the crop.”
